USCISNational Law Review · 3 min read
2026 USCIS & DOS Expand Screening: Green Card and EB-3 I-485 Applicants Affected
DOS and USCIS have expanded immigration vetting effective March 30, 2026, requiring social media disclosure for more visa categories and placing enhanced review holds on green card and EAD applications from high-risk countries.
The Department of State (DOS) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) have jointly announced significant expansions to immigration screening and vetting procedures, effective March 30, 2026. These changes reflect a coordinated federal effort to strengthen national security and public safety reviews across consular visa processing and domestic immigration benefit adjudications.
On the consular side, DOS has expanded its social media review policy to cover a broader range of nonimmigrant visa categories, including H-1B, H-4, F, M, J, K-1, R-1, and several others. Applicants in these categories are now required to disclose five years of social media handles and must set all profiles to public status in order for their visa applications to be processed.
For applicants already in the United States pursuing adjustment of status — including EB-3 green card applicants filing I-485 — USCIS has announced strengthened vetting measures after identifying gaps in prior adjudications. USCIS has issued policy memoranda placing holds and enhanced reviews on pending applications from 39 designated high-risk countries and certain Diversity Visa-based adjustment cases. Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) may also be subject to reduced validity periods and additional background checks.
EB-3 applicants should be aware that these expanded measures may result in longer processing times, increased Requests for Evidence (RFEs), or application holds — particularly for nationals of countries on USCIS's high-risk designation list. USCIS has also confirmed that vetting continues beyond initial U.S. entry and applies to naturalization and adjustment of status filings.
Immigration attorneys advise applicants to ensure full accuracy and consistency across all filings, social media profiles, and travel history. Proactive consultation with immigration counsel is strongly recommended to identify and address potential red flags before they cause delays or denials.